Last weekend, I read an article in the New York Times, A Lawyer Quit Her Job to Start a Climate Museum in New York, about how Miranda Massie is working on opening The Climate Museum on the subject of climate change. As I began to read the article, I was picturing what types of exhibitions would be in the museum. I imagined maps of ocean temperature change over the past 50-, or 100-plus years. Maybe exhibits tracking the change in countries’ carbon footprints over the course of centuries. Or, interactive exhibits that help you calculate your own carbon footprint. It’s a great idea, bringing all of this information to the public, in one easy-to -visit place, helping to educate the public about climate change.

This is something that I am trying to do within the architecture community with greendatabase.org. Massie made herself the director of the board and created a board of environmentalists, academics, architects, etc. The very sharp and well-respected architect, James Stewart Polshek, is among one of the trustees. He is a very credible architect in the academic, hospitality, and museum worlds.

I just hope that this great idea that Ms. Massie has does not turn into another NYC greenwashing exercise in politics.

Suzanne Sowinski is the founder and director of sustainable building at Sowinski Sullivan Architects, PC. She received her master’s degree in sustainable design over ten years ago. As a registered architect, she believes that the practice of architecture and the teaching of sustainable design are equally important in the 21st century.